Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 14: In three separate incidents which occurred on Thursday and Friday at different spots within the city, chain snatchers used their sleight of hands and took away chains from the necks of women. In these three cases, the value of ornaments taken away has been put at Rs 2.65 lac.
A woman was on a walk at around 6.30 am on Friday on the road near Vikas College, Maryhill when an accused suddenly approached her and snatched away her Karimani chain and another coral chain totally valued at Rs 1.5 lac from her neck while she was in front of Inland Windsor building at Maryhill. It is said that the unidentified person came from behind, held her neck in a strong grip from behind, yanked away two chains containing nine sovereigns of gold in total, and succeeded in running away. A case about this incident was filed at the rural police station here.
In the other case, a woman, Gertrude D'Souza, was walking by the side of Jeppu Seminary View Mathias Compound within Pandeshwar police station limits at around 10.15 am on Friday when a person touched her neck before going ahead. Within minutes, he came back, suddenly snatched away a golden chain from her neck. When the woman bent down to pick a piece of the chain, he snatched away another three-sovereign gold chain from her neck along with another chain, valued at Rs 70,000. This case was filed at Pandeshwar police station.
The third case happened at 2.25 pm on Thursday at Karavali Lane near Nanthur Kadri toll gate. A woman, Yashoda Holla, was watering her plants in her compound, when a man wanted to know from her whether she knew anyone who could pluck coconuts from the tree. As she responded, he suddenly extended his hand, and forcibly pulled a golden rose chain from her neck. The chain got cut into two pieces, with a piece of about two sovereigns remaining around her neck. The other piece of chain, valued at Rs 45,000, was taken away by the accused. Kadri police have registered a case about this incident.
The policemen believe that all these thefts were committed by the same person. They are taking steps to verify CCTV footage from cameras installed in the regions around the city in an effort to nab him.